According to Virgin Galactic’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, the test pilots, Mark Stucky and Clint Nichols, flew “flawlessly” through the sound barrier and ascended to higher altitudes and greater speed than ever before. In addition, complete mission phases were attained in flight.

Early Thursday morning the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port, carrying SpaceShipTwo. Upon release from the mother ship, SpaceShipTwo’s rocket motor propelled it to an altitude of 69,000 feet and a top speed of Mach 1.43.

Upon descent, the pilots deployed the spacecraft’s unique re-entry “feathered” flight mechanism, which is a feature designed to enhance safety by allowing a slower, stabilized descent.

The success of Thursday’s test flight moves SpaceShipTwo closer to commercial spaceflight service in 2014.